The things they are doing, the way they are winning, fuels a growing belief that this could be the year for San Jose

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The San Jose Sharks’ head is lowered onto the ice a fans cheer before the team takes on the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl (48) skates onto the ice before they take on the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Fans stand for the National Anthem before the San Jose Sharks take on the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose Sharks players stand during the playing of the National Anthem before they take on the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose Sharks fans celebrate as the team leads the St. Louis Blues 6-3 in the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

A young San Jose Sharks fan cheers during their game against the St. Louis Blues in the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) heads onto the ice before their game against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The Sharks won Game 7 of their series with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at SAP Center in San Jose to advance to the Western Conference finals.
Brandon Vallance/Special to the Sentinel

The San Jose Sharks shake hands following their 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche for Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose Sharks’ Justin Braun (61) comes out on the ice before Game 7 of the NHL second-round playoff series versus the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)

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This playoff run by the Sharks, which continues to grow in promise, was encapsulated by one play in one period of one game.

In the first period of Game 1 Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, Timo Meier pressed Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo in the neutral zone and knocked him to the ice, creating a loose puck. Gustav Nyquist supported the puck quickly — something the Sharks did very well in Game 1. With a few quick strides, Nyquist and Logan Couture attacked 2 on 1. A beautiful pass and finish and the Sharks were up 1-0..

How was that play a microcosm of the Sharks playoffs? Itʼs a one word answer. Resilience.

Throughout these playoffs, the Sharks have demonstrated the ability to quickly recover and overcome difficult situations. Down 3-1 to Vegas in the first round. Down 3-0 to Vegas in Game 7. Without their captain, Joe Pavelski, for that game and the six that followed.

And still here, moving closer to the goal that has eluded them for all of their 28-year history, seven victories away from the Stanley Cup.

The Sharks are tough. They are tough mentally too. They project an attitude that declares: Take your best shot; we’re ready.

The Blues took their best shot Saturday right from the start. From the opening face-off, the Blues went after the Sharks. Heavy, hard-hitting and ferocious, they sought to push the Sharks out of the rink. Six minutes into the game, the Blues had 12 hits.

Then Meier delivered his hit, and everything changed.

Breaking it down as a coach, or a hockey nerd, the Sharks did a lot of good things in Game 1.

They took hits to make plays. They were excellent on faceoffs .They used quickness to create turnovers and goals off those turnovers. Collectively, they were five-strong in front of Martin Jones.

Speaking of Martin Jones — and we really should — you would need to search the playoff archives to find a goalie that has flipped the switch like he has. Jones is resilience personified. That resilience paired with a bold determination powered Jones to overcome questions, criticism and the challenges of the first round and once again be a monster in the net.

One small bit of criticism of the Sharks: In the third period of the last two games — Game 7 against Colorado and Game 1 against the Blues, the Sharks have allowed 27 shots and taken only seven.

In those 40 minutes of play, Martin Jones has been — in the vernacular of the great Randy Hahn — “UN-BE-LIEVABLE!”

A little help in the third period would be good, but that issue aside, the Sharks played a confident and smart game. There appears to be a strong belief system building within the team and around it.

There’s a lot of hockey to be played, but this could really be happening, Sharks fans.

SAN JOSE — General manager Doug Wilson was still trying to put things in perspective Thursday after the Sharks came up six wins short of capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.That necessary time to reflect after the Sharks lost the Western Conference Final in six games, though, can only last so long.His captain, Joe Pavelski, wants to stay with the...